Men's Tennis

Coker Men's Tennis Ranked No. 39 in Nation

May 08, 2013

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men's tennis team has cracked the national polls, earning a No. 39 ranking by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. This is the first time a Coker's men's tennis team has been ranked nationally in program history.

"To be ranked nationally speaks volumes for our program," head coach Tom Simpson said. "The men worked hard to put together a great season. It's rewarding to see them recognized for their efforts."

In the second season under Simpson, the Cobras went 18-5 overall and 10-0 in Conference Carolinas. They won the regular-season conference title and made it to the conference tournament final, dropping a 5-2 match against Limestone College.

Postseason accolades for the squad included four all-conference selections: Andre Staab (first team), William Marrafao (second team), James Corfield (second team) and Tom Sizeland (third team). In addition, Simpson was named conference coach of the year and the United States Professional Tennis Association Southern Division coach of the year.

Along with the national ranking as a team, Staab is currently ranked No. 32 by the ITA in singles. He is the first men's tennis player in Coker history to earn a national ranking. Staab, also named the ITA Southeast Rookie of the Year and conference freshman of the year, went 15-5 in singles play.

Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.